6 Dec 2016

When Leah had her fourth child she named him Yehudah, saying, "HaPaam Odeh Es Hashem" - "This time I must thank Hashem". Rashi is bothered, why is it specifically by this child that she had to thank Hashem? He explains, Leah knew that Yaakov would have 4 wives and 12 children. According to the calculation, it comes out to 3 children per wife. Therefore, when Leah had her forth child she said, "HaPaam Odeh Es Hashem" - "This time I must thank Hashem" - As Rashi explains, "ShNatalti Yoser MiChelki" - "For I have received more than my portion."
I once heard a pshat, it is for this reason, the Jewish Nation is known by the name "Yehudi". Since every Jew must look at what his lot is in this world and say, "Natalti Yoser MiChelki" - I have received more than my share.... More than I deserve!!
http://www.thejewisheye.com/rev_pvayeitzei.html

Amid rising anti-Semitism across Europe, two of Western Europe’s liberal democracies are taking starkly different approaches to combating the new security challenges presented to their respective Jewish communities.
Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/221199

3 Dec 2016

When Yaakov woke from his dream, he realized he was in a Makom Kadosh, Yerushalayim. He appropriately named the place Bais Kel, the house of Hashem. The pasuk (Vayeitzei 28:19) tells us that the original name was Luz. Rabbeinu Bachaye asks why is this relevant to us?

He answers that the pasuk is hinting to the fact that Yerushalayim was the beginning of creation, and the rest of the world continued from there. Luz, he explains based on the Medrash (Vayikra Rabba 18:1), is the bone in our spine that we will be recreated from during Techiyas HaMeisim. Just like the original wondrous creation started from Luz, so too will the miracle of Techiyas HaMeisim will start from Yerushalayim, for Yerushalayim is the center on Hashem's universe, and the closest connection to Heaven.http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Vayeitzei-Rabbeinu-Bachaye-It-All-Starts-From-Luz/5304